AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Is that undiluted?” he says.
“Very.”
His eyes are wide. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone this scared since catching my reflection in a dentist’s mirror.
“Please keep it away,” he says. “It’s poison.”
“I know. What makes it not poison?”
He looks at his lap.
“I can’t tell you.”
“’Cause Wormwood will kill you?”
“Something like that.”
“What do you think I’m going to do to you?”
He seems stumped at that.
“Besides,” I continue, “what do you care? You people are always bragging about your branch office Downtown. Maybe death will be great. Puppies and candy and you on Santa’s knee forever.”
He looks at me. “It’s not death. It’s other . . . things.”
“They’ll go rough on you.”
“Worse than you can imagine.”
“Worse than when I get bored and stick you with the needle?”
He stares across the room. I follow his gaze and see a liquor cabinet.
“Want a drink, Charlie?”
“Very much.”
I take out my flask of Aqua Regia.
“Try mine.”
He looks terrified. I unscrew the top.
“It’s not poison. See?”
I take a big gulp. Hold the flask out to him.
“You don’t have a choice, Charlie.”
He takes a sip. Gags. Tries to spit it out.
I put my hand over his mouth until he swallows. That sends him into a coughing fit.
I get down close to his face.
“Good?”
His wipes his mouth with the sleeve of his robe.
